Three-dimensional object with replaceable inserts

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional object with one or more inserts has a body having at least one cavity on an exterior surface, and at least one insert that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the at least one cavity in three or more orientations. An attachment secures the at least one insert within the at least one cavity in a desired orientation.

FIELD

This relates to a three-dimensional body with replaceable inserts, suchas for activities or games.

BACKGROUND

When playing games or during therapy sessions with children, a commontechnique is to randomly select an activity that the children must do.This may be done by rolling a die with different activities on thesides. U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,144 (Maddestra et al.) entitled “EducationalBlock with Replaceable Chip”, describes blocks with removable andreplaceable sides.

SUMMARY

There is provided a three-dimensional object with one or more inserts.The three-dimensional object comprises a body having at least one cavityon an exterior surface, and at least one insert that is sized and shapedto be inserted into the at least one cavity in three or moreorientations. An attachment secures the at least one insert within theat least one cavity in a desired orientation.

According to an aspect, the at least one insert may be a polyhedral bodyhaving a message on each side. The at least one insert may be sized andshaped to be substantially flush with or recessed from the exteriorsurface of the body in each of the orientations.

According to an aspect, the body may be one of a sphere, a cylinder anda polyhedron. The body may be a die.

According to another aspect, there is provided a die with one or moreinserts. The die comprises a polyhedral body, at least one side of thepolyhedral body comprising a cavity, and at least one insert that issized and shaped to be inserted into the cavity in three or moreorientations. An attachment secures the at least one insert within theat least one cavity in a desired orientation.

According to an aspect, the at least one insert may be a polyhedral bodyhaving a message that is displayed from the in each of the three or moreorientations. The at least one insert may be sized and shaped to besubstantially flush with or recessed from the side of the polyhedralbody in each of the orientations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the followingdescription in which reference is made to the appended drawings, thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intendedto be in any way limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a die with inserts.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the die.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the die.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the die with an insert in multipleorientations.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of each side of the die.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There will now be described a preferred embodiment with reference toFIG. 1 through 5, namely, a die generally identified by referencenumeral 100.

Referring to FIG. 1, die 100 includes a polyhedral body 1, such as acube as shown, with cavities 2 that receive inserts 3. Cavities 2 aresized to receive inserts 3 in three or more orientations. Attachments 4are also provided to secure inserts 3 within the respective cavities 2.Referring to FIG. 4, inserts 3 are installed while insert 3 a is shownas being rotating as desired prior to being inserted.

In the depicted example, cavities 2 are offset on each face of body 1 tomaximize the size of cavities 2 with respect to the size of body 1.FIGS. 2 and 3 show the various sides 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of body 1, asdoes FIG. 5. It can be seen that a different position is selected foreach side 5 through 10.

As shown, die 100 is a polyhedron having a multi-faceted form (i.e.6-sided cube) with 6 smaller sub-components in the shape of regulartetrahedrons (4-sided pyramids). The larger polyhedron form is suitablefor rolling/throwing as a die, and offers the user or game player equalaccess to each of the 6 sides. For example, the user may be a therapist,instructor or teacher working with children and they would use the dieto enhance the child's interest in various therapeutic or learningactivities through randomness, novelty, and game-oriented play. Each ofthe 6 sides of the dice is not permanently defined, but by theattachment and orientation of the 6 sub-components, it becomes easilychangeable, allowing increased interest and user involvement, through alarger number outcome potentials and activity options (in this version,6×4=24 possible activities for each die). The main polyhedron componenthas a regular tetrahedral indentation on each of its 6 faces forreceiving one of the tetrahedral sub-components. The 6 regulartetrahedral sub-components each offer 4 different surfaces/faces forprinting and displaying different activities/information/outcomes. Eachof the 6 tetrahedral subcomponents fits flush into one of the 6indentations on the larger polyhedron, with each subcomponent revealingone of its faces at any given time. Attachments secure thesubcomponents, preventing undesired detachment under typical use(rolling & throwing actions, transport) and allowing easy repositioningof each subcomponent for displaying any alternative one of its 4 faces.

In most embodiments, there will be multiple inserts to maximize thecustomizability of die 100. However, it will be understood that theremay only be one insert, and there may be also be one or more permanentmessages or symbols.

Die 100 may be used in various settings. In one embodiment, die 100 maybe used in a therapy setting for an organizational method of visuallyrepresenting the nature of the outcomes or activities on eachsubcomponent. Die 100 can be “loaded” by the therapist for outcomes, forinstance, towards more or less physical play, higher or lower cognitiveskill challenges, etc. A colour-based and graphic system may be used toassist the therapist in selecting appropriate activities. For example,darker or lighter hues of red/oranges tones can be used to indicatehigher or lower physical intensity levels (alerting vs. calming). Othercolours may be matched to sensory (yellow), social (green), or cognitive(blue) domains of activities. Images may be used to denote furthermeaning based on outlined or silhouetted artwork.

Die may also be used outside of a therapy setting, such as in a gamesetting. In this example, each user may take a turn at changing theorientation of an insert, or the inserts may be changed based in arandom or predetermined manner as the game progresses. Die may also beused to tell a story, where the story is changed depending on theinserts used.

In the example discussed above, body 1 is a cube, and inserts 3 aretetrahedrons, with cavities 2 being approximately the same size andshape as inserts 3. It will be understood that different shapes may beused. For example, polyhedral body 1 may be made with fewer or moresides, or the sides may not be equal. Alternatively, body 1 may be othertypes of three-dimensional objects that are not polyhedrons. Forexample, body 1 may be a cylinder or sphere. Body 1 may take other formsthat combine curved surfaces and/or flat surfaces, depending on thepreferences of the user, and the intended uses. While it is generallythe case that each orientation should be equally probable, there may besome situations where the probability of landing in a particularorientation be increased or reduced relative to the other possibleorientations.

As with body 1, it will also be understood that inserts 3 are notlimited to polyhedrons, and insert 3 may be a sphere or any number ofdifferent shapes that can be inserted into a cavity in three or moreorientations. Cavity 2 will be designed according to the shape of insert3, but need not be the same shape, as long as it is able to receiveinsert 3 in different orientations. Insert 3 is preferably designed tobe inserted perpendicularly to the particular face of body 1.Preferably, inserts 3 are either flush with or recessed from theexterior surface of body 1 so as not to impede die 100 as it is rolled.In addition, inserts 3 may be designed such that the various messages orsymbols on the various sides may be changed.

In the depicted embodiment, attachments 4 are shown as restraining tabs.Attachments 4 are rubber (or plastic) lips projecting on each side ofcavity 2. Three semi-flexible corner tabs hold the wedge shaped inserts3 in place. The user compresses insert 3 into and under the three tabs.In other embodiments, other types of attachments may be used, such asVelcro™, snaps, magnets, straps or flaps that may be transparent ortranslucent, semi-flexible or rigid, friction or interference fits,engaging profiles, etc. The selected type of attachment will depend atleast in part on the selection of materials used.

Body 1 and inserts 3 may be made from a foam core enclosed in a flexiblematerial, such as a self-skinning type of foam or molded polyurethane.Other manufacturing options will be recognized by those skilled in theart, and may include paper or cardboard, blow or injection moldedpolystyrene or other thermoplastic, welded plastic sheets to form aninflatable body, etc. In embodiments intended to be used by children, itis preferred that body 1 be a softer material without sharp corners oredges.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in itsnon-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included,but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to anelement by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibilitythat more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearlyrequires that there be one and only one of the elements.

The following claims are to be understood to include what isspecifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptuallyequivalent, and what can be obviously substituted. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of thedescribed embodiments can be configured without departing from the scopeof the claims. The illustrated embodiments have been set forth only asexamples and should not be taken as limiting the invention. It is to beunderstood that, within the scope of the following claims, the inventionmay be practiced other than as specifically illustrated and described.

1. A three-dimensional object with one or more inserts, thethree-dimensional object comprising: a body having at least one cavityon an exterior surface; at least one insert that is sized and shaped tobe inserted into the at least one cavity in three or more orientations;and an attachment for securing the at least one insert within the atleast one cavity in a desired orientation.
 2. The three-dimensionalobject of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is a polyhedral bodyhaving a message on each side.
 3. The three-dimensional object of claim1, wherein the at least one insert is sized and shaped to besubstantially flush with or recessed from the exterior surface of thebody in each of the orientations.
 4. The three-dimensional object ofclaim 1, wherein the body is one of a sphere, a cylinder and apolyhedron.
 5. The three-dimensional object of claim 1, wherein the bodyis a die.
 6. A die with inserts, the die comprising: a polyhedral body,at least one side of the polyhedral body comprising a cavity; at leastone insert that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the cavity inthree or more orientations; and an attachment for securing the at leastone insert within the at least one cavity in a desired orientation. 7.The die of claim 6, wherein the at least one insert is a polyhedral bodyhaving a message that is displayed from the in each of the three or moreorientations.
 8. The die of claim 6, wherein the at least one insert issized and shaped to be substantially flush with or recessed from theside of the polyhedral body in each of the orientations.